03/31/07: This year’s Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach collector car event was a bit of a slower and more realistic foray than the wild eyed money mosh pit that Scottsdale was in January. Not only were the prices that cars were fetching far more on the level that one would say is realistic if not a bargian, but the high dollar cars were not there this year in much force.

As far as Mustang and Fords go, the big news again was the sale of another Shelby #001 car. This year Ford and Shelby teamed up to debut the new car as well as sell the first example to the public. The car was the expected 2007 Shelby GT-H Mustang Convertible. A drop top version of the “rent-a-racer” introduced in 2006, the car continued the saga. The sale generated $250,000 for the Carroll Shelby Children’s Fund. The remaining 499 Shelby GT-H Convertible will be going into the summer fun rental fleets of Hertz.

Who was the buyer? It was none other than Arizona collector Ron Pratte who also paid $600,000 for the first 2007 Shelby GT-500 as well as another $600,000 for the first 2007 Shelby GT. It can be said that the gentleman will have quite the set.

This auction has served up a number of 2005+ SEMA show cars as was the case last year. It seems that the going rate for these mega Mustangs that made the show circuit is about $55,000 on average - a deal considering what most of them cost to build. Other dissapointments were some of the prolific "re-creation" cars that start with a perfectly original Mustang and become a fake knock-off copy of some other such thing. These cars are falling victim to zealous and "creative" profitiers, never to have their historic significance again.

While the 1967 Eleanor fad continues on strong, other re-creation themes like restomodded Shelby Mustang copies seem to be falling on a flat market. Genuine restored muscle classics with pedigrees like the original Shelbys, Mach 1 and Boss cars seem to be holding their pricing. There is no substitute for the real thing it seems.

With that, we will simply deliver the results. Sale prices listed include all brokerage commissions of approximately 18%.

Sales for Thursday 3/29/07

Lot 1: 1976 Ford Pinto

Lot 24.1: 1965 Mustang Coupe

76 Ford Pinto with 7093 actual miles. Wow, can you believe this car is at a Barrett-Jacskon Auction. No word as to whether this car had the gas tank recall work done or not.

Fully customized with such upgrades as super charger, panoramic glass roof, custom interior with ostrich inserts, Eibach suspension, Billet Lower Control Arms, Magnaflow exhaust, It is # 1 of 15 to be produced by T.P. Customs.

Rating: 9

Rating: 9

Sale Price: $ 57,200

Sale Price: $60,500

Lot 69: 2003 Mustang Cobra Conv

Customized convertible, lots of mods and custom paint. Sold for less than the owner had in it by a long shot.

Rating: 9

Sale Price: $ 36,300

Sales for Friday 03/30/07

Lot 300: 1990 Mustang GT Hatch

Lot 50.1: 1965 Mustang Custom Conv.

Purchased February 2, 1990 and stored in a barn until Feb 2006. Car was purchased for original owners newborn granddaughter who did not want the car 16 years later. Car wasn't titled until February 2007 and has never been registered to drive on the road.1350 original miles.

289, auto. Complete restoration with a $30,000 cost. Obviously not a car that was for investment.

This car is the creation of the imagination of Chip Foose and the result is one incredible vehicle! The build aired on the July 2005 episode of "Overhaulin."This is a "one-of-a-kind" custom Mustang and serves as the prototype to the Ford Stallion, now in production (2007).

Built by 3d Carbon for Ford's display during the 2004 SEMA show, Winner of Best of Show- SEMA 2004- Ford Racing/ Whipple polished supercharger, intercooled -500 hp. This car has been on the cover of numerous magazines and is the inspiration for several die-cast models and radio controlled cars.

428 SCJ, auto, total restoration and MCA show history. A great example.

Rating: 10

Rating: 9

Sale Price: $ 52,800

Sale Price: $ 110,000

Lot 667: 2065 Mustang Custom

Lot 678: 1967 Mustang Custom

Had its debut at the "World of Wheels Show" winning Outstanding in Class and the Super Rod Magazine award. Engine features a Fasttimes Motorworks engine with twin turbos making 900 hp on pump gas with 13 lbs of boost.

Is the world not over this Eleanor thing yet? Obviously not. Here is yet another example of an original Mustang tossed in the trash to emulate some fictitious movie theme.

Rating: 7

Rating: 7

Sale Price: $ 55,000

Sale Price: $ 112,750

Lot 684: 1969 Shelby GT-350 FB

Lot 704: 1969 Shelby GT-500 FB

351 / Auto, This 2-owner Shelby GT-350 was built in May 1969 and sold new in East Point, GA. It has 75,000 actual miles. All the pedigree stuff.

428 / 4-Speed, no expense spared on the restoration of this beautiful 69 Shelby GT500. This 24,000 original mileage Shelby has a extensive auto album plus receipts to document the complete restoration.

The Ford FR500C is a hand built race car and is one of only 28 of its kind. It is the first turn-key race car that Ford has had on the market since the 1960's. This car is non-production, non-VIN and non-street able.

Rating: 9

Rating: 9

Sale Price: $ 102,300

Sale Price: $ 59,400

Lot 727: 1967 Shelby GT-500 FB

Lot 729: 2004 Mustang Conv

428, Auto, Built January 1967 (#969 OR 2500). Complete ground up restoration done in 1997. 600 miles since restoration (29,000 original miles). This California car was stored for 20 years prior to restoration. Carroll himself bid on this car, but did not take it home.

Ford's 300 millionth vehicle is a 2004 Ford Mustang GT convertible with special edition Crimson Red paint and a Tan top, and leather seating. Then chairman and CEO Bill Ford drove this vehicle off the line in 2004 commemorating the historical event. All proceeds over $30,000 will go to Multiple Sclerosis.

Another "recreation". of an original Shelby "R" car. This car has a a mixed bag of modern and old, but certainly not original bits. Thumbs down on this one. Evidently buyers agree.

Rating: 8

Rating: 6

Sale Price: $ 23,650

Sale Price: $ 25,300

Lot 933: 1973 Mustang Mach 1

Lot 936: 2004 Roush 440 A

Rotisserie Restored
Number Matching Motor and Transmission
Factory Air updated to 134A
55,000 Original Miles
Power Brakes / Steering

The last of the red hot roushes, with only 3,493 original miles. This is #30 of only 40 cars produced. Commemorative 40th Anniversary for the final production of the "SN-95" body style. 400 horsepower-4.6 with roush/roots supercharger. Dashboard is autographed.